DRAMATIZATION OF THE READING PROCESS DURING THE CLASS

In this case, the text is “Drivers no Longer Allowed on Hoover Dam”

Te first activity that is done is predicting the content and outcomes. The teacher shows and introduces the text including the picture to the students. The students are asked about their prediction of the picture by comparing to the title of the text.  After constructing some predictions based on the picture and the title, the teacher asks them what the text will tell us. The students will actually answer there is a new bridge built besides Hoover Dam. Then, the teacher instructs the students to explain their reasons. The students explain we can see in the picture, two persons are standing on the bridge look over the Hoover Dam. The teacher moves to the next question, in your opinion, what is the problem within the text? Why is the new bridge built? The students answer the Dam is now dangerous to be used or it is to keep the dam.

The teacher makes an instruction to the student to step deeper into connecting their background knowledge by asking, based on your understanding, tell me what the author want in writing this text, or what the purpose is. The students answer, to give information. The teacher then let the students to read the text carefully in 20 minutes and he asks, so, after reading the text, can you tell me what the author wants to say to us? The students explain: the author tells us that there is a new bridge that lets the drivers bypass Hoover Dam. We know there was no bridge there before, but the dam is only two lanes wide, it winds around hills, and it was often backed up for miles, it will be dangerous to drive on it anymore. So, the bridge is the solution. The teacher asks: where did you get that information? The students say: those are in paragraph 1 first line, paragraph 2, and the third paragraph.

Now, the teacher asks: Based on your comprehension, what was in the feeling of the author while writing this text? The students answer: he supports the bridge, even he is very proud of the bridge. The teacher asks: how can you know? The students reply: we can know by seeing the all paragraphs. Besides, he includes the statement of a figure who gives a compliment about the bridge in the last paragraph. The teacher asks: Do you know why he is like that, class? The students reply: it is because he feels and understands the advantages of the bridge.

The last step is teacher delivers the question: Students, do you have the same opinion with the author related to his response to this case? The students said: yes, we have. It is important to build that bridge in order to keep the dam in good condition and save the drivers.